scholarly journals Functional Response and Predation Rate of Dicyphus cerastii Wagner (Hemiptera: Miridae)

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 530
Author(s):  
Gonçalo Abraços-Duarte ◽  
Susana Ramos ◽  
Fernanda Valente ◽  
Elsa Borges da Silva ◽  
Elisabete Figueiredo

Dicyphine mirids are important biological control agents (BCAs) in horticultural crops. Dicyphus cerastii Wagner can be found in protected tomato crops in Portugal, and has been observed feeding on several tomato pests. However, the predation capacity of this species is poorly studied. In order to investigate the predation capacity of D. cerastii, and how it is affected by prey size and mobility, we evaluated the functional response (FR) and predation rate of female predators on different densities of four prey species: Myzus persicae 1st instar nymphs (large mobile prey), Bemisia tabaci 4th instar nymphs, Ephestia kuehniella eggs (large immobile prey) and Tuta absoluta eggs (small immobile prey). Experiments were performed on tomato leaflets in Petri dish arenas for 24 h. Dicyphus cerastii exhibited type II FR for all prey tested. The predator effectively preyed upon all prey, consuming an average of 88.8 B. tabaci nymphs, 134.4 E. kuehniella eggs, 37.3 M. persicae nymphs and 172.3 T. absoluta eggs. Differences in the FR parameters, attack rate and handling time, suggested that prey size and mobility affected predation capacity. Considering the very high predation rates found for all prey species, D. cerastii proved to be an interesting candidate BCA for tomato crops.

Acarologia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-40
Author(s):  
Yaghoub Fathipour ◽  
Maryam Karimi ◽  
Azadeh Farazmand ◽  
Ali Asghar Talebi

The lifetime-dependent functional response and predation rate of Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot on eggs of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch was determined under laboratory conditions using cucumber leaf discs. Densities of 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128 prey were offered to 4 (protonymph), 5 (deutonymph), 6 (1-day-old adult), 10 (5-day-old adult), 15 (10-day-old adult), 20 (15-day-old adult), 25 (20-day-old adult), 30 (25-day-old adult), 35 (30-day-old adult) and 40 (35-day-old adult) P. persimilis individuals. The results of logistic regression analyses showed that on the 15th, 35th and 40th days of predator age, predation rate of T. urticae eggs increased, resulting in the type III functional response, while at the other ages, the functional response was type II. The Rogers model was used to estimate searching efficiency (a) and handling time (Th). The longest handling time was obtained in the protonymphal stage with 2.377 +/- 0.192 h. The shortest handling time and the highest value of estimated maximum attack rate (T/Th) were estimated at the age of 20 days (0.494 +/- 0.009 h and 48.57prey/day). At the highest prey density used (128 eggs), our findings showed that the highest number of prey was eaten by 15, 20, 25 and 30 days old P. persimilis (39.3, 41.7, 39.3 and 38.1 eggs per day, respectively). The results of this study revealed that P. persimilis especially at the middle and late ages has a good predation potential on T. urticae eggs at higher prey densities.


Author(s):  
Sajjad Dalir ◽  
Hamidreza Hajiqanbar ◽  
Yaghoub Fathipour ◽  
Mostafa Khanamani

Abstract The age-specific functional and numerical responses of Neoseiulus cucumeris Oudemans (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) on eggs of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae), were assessed in the laboratory using bean leaf discs. Densities of 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128 prey were provided to 4- (protonymph), 6- (deutonymph), 8-, 13-, 18-, 23-, 28-, 33-, and 40-d-old N. cucumeris individuals. The functional response of 28- and 40-d-old N. cucumeris fitted type II, whereas the other ages displayed a type III functional response. The longest handling time observed at the age of 4 d was 0.515 h, whereas the shortest handling time and highest value of maximum attack rate (T/Th) were associated with the age of the 28-d-old treatment (0.261 h and 91.95 prey/d, respectively). The numerical response of N. cucumeris showed a significant increase with increasing prey density, but its rate gradually decreased at higher densities. Therefore, the efficiency of conversion of ingested food was relatively higher at low two-spotted spider mite densities, whereas it was reduced at high two-spotted spider mite densities. The stronger functional response and predation capacity of N. cucumeris on two-spotted spider mite eggs indicated the high potential of this predatory mite as an effective biological control agent against two-spotted spider mite especially at its early and middle ages and also when higher prey densities are present.


2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaghoub Fathipour ◽  
Maryam Karimi ◽  
Azadeh Farazmand ◽  
Ali Asghar Talebi

The lifetime functional response and predation rate of Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot on eggs of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch were determined under laboratory conditions using cucumber leaf discs. Densities of 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128 prey were offered to 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 17, 22 and 27-day-old A. swirskii individuals. Based on the logistic regression, the functional response of twelve-day-old A. swirskii was type III, while the other ages showed type II. The Rogers model was used to estimate searching efficiency (a) and handling time (Th). The longest handling time (1.387±0.315 h) was observed in the protonymphal stage, while the shortest handling time and highest maximum attack rate (T/Th) were estimated at the age of seven-days (0.396±0.057 h and 60.67 prey/day, respectively). In the functional response experiments, results of the highest prey density used (128 eggs) showed that the highest number of prey consumed by A. swirskii individuals aged twelve and seventeen-days old (35.6 and 43.1 eggs, respectively). It is concluded that A. swirskii could be an efficient biological control agent of T. urticae at the middle-age of its life and at higher prey densities. 


Author(s):  
Xiao-Bo Li ◽  
Rui Zhu ◽  
Tian-Ci Yi ◽  
Jian-Jun Guo ◽  
Dao-Chao Jin

The ability to endure starvation is important for predatory mite survival and its effectiveness as biological control agent. We studied the longevity and functional response of the prodator mite Neoseiulus californicus (McGregaor) under starvation stress. N. californicus individuals were treated as three groups: the mites were provided with nothing (group I), with fresh bean leaves (group II), and with water (group III) to the larvae, protonymphs, deutonymphs, adult males and females. Functional response of N. californicus to Tetranychus urticae Koch eggs was evaluated after starvation for 0 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h. Results showed that all life stages of N. californicus in group III had the longest survival time among the three groups. Adult females had the strongest ability to endure starvation with a mean survival time of 8.16 d. Females had the ability to lay eggs, but the number of eggs laid was less than a mean of 1.2 eggs per female in the three starvation groups. N. californicus exhibited a Holling’s Type II functional response at all hunger levels. The handling time (Th) and attack rate (α) of the predator were not significantly different in all hunger levels. Predation rate of starved 0 h to 72 h initially increased and then decreased. The highest predation rate was recorded when the predators were starved for 24 h.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
B McLellan ◽  
R Serrouya ◽  
Heiko Wittmer ◽  
S Boutin

Allee effects can have significant consequences for small populations and understanding the causal mechanisms for such effects is important for guiding conservation actions. One proposed mechanism is through predation, in which a type II functional response leads to increasing predation rates as prey numbers decline. However, models to support this mechanism have incorporated only a single declining prey species in the functional response, which is probably an oversimplification. We reevaluated the potential for predator-mediated Allee effects in a multi-prey system using Holling's disc equation. We also used empirical data on a large herbivore to examine how grouping behavior may influence the potential for predation-mediated Allee effects. Results based on a multi-prey expression of the functional response predict that Allee effects caused by predation on relatively rare secondary prey may not occur because handling time of the abundant prey dominates the functional response such that secondary prey are largely "bycatch." However, a predator-mediated Allee effect can occur if secondary prey live in groups and if, as the population declines, their average group size declines (a relationship seen in several species). In such a case, the rate at which the number of groups declines is less than the rate at which the population declines. Thus the rate at which a predator encounters a group remains relatively stable, but when a predator kills one animal from smaller groups, the predation rate increases. These results highlight the need to evaluate risks associated with potential changes in group size as populations decline. © 2010 by the Ecological society ot America.


2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1902) ◽  
pp. 20190622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Melissa Guzman ◽  
Diane S. Srivastava

Predators and prey often differ in body mass. The ratio of predator to prey body mass influences the predator's functional response (how consumption varies with prey density), and therefore, the strength and stability of the predator–prey interaction. The persistence of food chains is maximized when prey species are neither too big nor too small relative to their predator. Nonetheless, we do not know if (i) food web persistence requires that all predator–prey body mass ratios are intermediate, nor (ii) if this constraint depends on prey diversity. We experimentally quantified the functional response for a single predator consuming prey species of different body masses. We used the resultant allometric functional response to parametrize a food web model. We found that predator persistence was maximized when the minimum prey size in the community was intermediate, but as prey diversity increased, the minimum body size could take a broader range of values. This last result occurs because of Jensen's inequality: the average handling time for multiple prey of different sizes is higher than the handling time of the average sized prey. Our results demonstrate that prey diversity mediates how differences between predators and prey in body mass determine food web stability.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Zarghami ◽  
Mohammad Saeed Mossadegh ◽  
Farhan Kocheili ◽  
Hossein Allahyari ◽  
Arash Rasekh

Nephus arcuatusKapur is an important predator ofNipaecoccus viridis(Newstead), in citrus orchards of southwestern Iran. This study examined the feeding efficiency of all stages ofN. arcuatusat different densities ofN. viridiseggs by estimating their functional responses. First and 2nd instar larvae as well as adult males exhibited a type II functional response. Attack rate and handling time were estimated to be 0.2749 h−1and 5.4252 h, respectively, for 1st instars, 0.5142 h−1and 1.1995 h for 2nd instars, and 0.4726 h−1and 0.7765 h for adult males. In contrast, 3rd and 4th instar larvae and adult females ofN. arcuatusexhibited a type III functional response. Constantband handling time were estimated to be 0.0142 and 0.4064 h for 3rd instars, respectively, 0.00660 and 0.1492 h for 4th instars, and 0.00859 and 0.2850 h for adult females. The functional response of these six developmental stages differed in handling time. Based on maximum predation rate, 4th instar larvae were the most predatory (160.9 eggs/d) followed by adult females (84.2 eggs/d). These findings suggest thatN. arcuatusis a promising biocontrol agent ofN. viridiseggs especially for 4th instar larvae and adult females.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
B McLellan ◽  
R Serrouya ◽  
Heiko Wittmer ◽  
S Boutin

Allee effects can have significant consequences for small populations and understanding the causal mechanisms for such effects is important for guiding conservation actions. One proposed mechanism is through predation, in which a type II functional response leads to increasing predation rates as prey numbers decline. However, models to support this mechanism have incorporated only a single declining prey species in the functional response, which is probably an oversimplification. We reevaluated the potential for predator-mediated Allee effects in a multi-prey system using Holling's disc equation. We also used empirical data on a large herbivore to examine how grouping behavior may influence the potential for predation-mediated Allee effects. Results based on a multi-prey expression of the functional response predict that Allee effects caused by predation on relatively rare secondary prey may not occur because handling time of the abundant prey dominates the functional response such that secondary prey are largely "bycatch." However, a predator-mediated Allee effect can occur if secondary prey live in groups and if, as the population declines, their average group size declines (a relationship seen in several species). In such a case, the rate at which the number of groups declines is less than the rate at which the population declines. Thus the rate at which a predator encounters a group remains relatively stable, but when a predator kills one animal from smaller groups, the predation rate increases. These results highlight the need to evaluate risks associated with potential changes in group size as populations decline. © 2010 by the Ecological society ot America.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen L. Totterman

AbstractThis study measured the response of Australian pied oystercatchersHaematopus longirostrison South Ballina Beach, New South Wales, Australia during a recovery in the stock of the primary prey speciesDonax deltoides, a large beach clam and commonly known as the ‘pipi’. It was predicted that oystercatcher counts would increase when pipi abundance increased (numerical response) and that oystercatcher feeding rates would also increase (functional response). Between Oct 2009 and Mar 2015, mean pipi density increased from c. zero to 30 pipis/m2. Mean oystercatcher feeding rates increased to an asymptote of c. 0.26 pipis/min. Breeding season mean counts of adult-plumage oystercatchers increased from 23 to 43, largely driven by non-territorial birds. Prey size selection was absent, both among different prey types and among pipis > 20 mm. This report provides some insights into the feeding ecology of oystercatchers on sandy ocean beaches that should be valuable in planning future studies.


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